Let’s continue with our Tomato patch collection.

4. Indigo Rose Cherry Tomato

Seed started:

March 24, 2021

Size:

6-10 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide

Location:

Full sun

Matures in:

75 days from transplant

Native to:

Developed by Jim Myers at the Oregon State University using traditional plant breeding techniques, Indigo Rose Organic tomato seeds are the first improved tomato variety in the world that has the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin in the fruit. 

Why did I Choose it?

They are so beautiful!!!

Uses?

Anything cherry tomatoes are used for. The purple tomatoes make amazing roasted tomato sauce. 

Specifics:

Indigo Rose tomato seeds produce the most extraordinary, dark purple-skinned tomatoes currently available. The flavour of these tomatoes is clean and clear, reminiscent of plums, with a slightly acidic sweetness. Fruits average 50g (1.7 oz.) hanging in clusters from vigorous sprawling vines with wild, curly leaves. Plants are hardy and have good disease resistance.

As the fruit matures the skin will become purple where exposed to light and the fruit tends to have a purple crown. This is caused by the antioxidant anthocyanin reacting to the sun. The fruits are ripe when their skin colour changes from a shiny blue-purple to a dull purple-brown. The fruit also softens similarly to regular tomatoes, and the bottom of the tomatoes will turn from green to red when ripe.

Personal Notes: 

As soon as I saw these tomatoes I wanted them. We tried our first ‘black’ cherry tomato last year and they are absolutely delicious so we decided to try more this year. Really looking forward to eating these guys.

5. Paul Robeson Beefsteak Tomato

Seed started:

March 24, 2021

Size:

7 feet plus tall by 23 feet wide

Location:

Full sun

Matures in:

90 days from transplant 

Native to:

This is an old Russian variety named after the African-American actor, singer and civil rights activist, Paul Robeson (1898-1976). He became a hero in the Soviet Union because of his activism and the unyielding position that he took during the McCarthy-era. The seeds were initially introduced to American seed savers in the mid-1990s by Marina Danilenko, a pioneering private seed seller from Moscow. There’s a really cool history of Marina and her mother given over at Victory Seed’s website.

Why did I Choose it?

A cult following must mean a delicious tomato. I got these seeds from Seeds of Imbolc.

Uses?

Beefsteak tomato uses ;)

Specifics:

This variety has an amazing flavor that is so distinctive, sweet and smokey it makes connoisseurs wax poetic. The fruits are large 7-10 ounces, some up to 20, and a black-brick color. The plants have regular leaves and are very productive. Cracking may happen so be consistent in watering them but don’t ever water. 

Personal Notes: 

These should be a fun type to grow and I’m looking forward to seeing what they taste like. So much depends on weather conditions and even your soil can affect the flavour so we’ll have to see.

6. Pruden's Purple Beefsteak Tomato

Seed started:

March 31, 2021

Size:

6 feet plus tall and 2-3 feet wide

Location:

Full sun

Matures in:

70 days from transplant

Native to:

History seems to be a bit vague. Following the lines back it appears to have been developed by ‘an old woman in Eastern Kentucky’ by the name of Mrs. Pruden. It was being privately traded in the 80’s in the States and then by the late 90s became commercially available. Early ‘want listings’ describe a huge fruit, up to 5 pounds, and a deep purple/black colour. 

aka "Pruden Purple," "Prudens Purple," and "Prudence Purple" - as well as the names "Potato Top" and "Peruvian Black"

Why did I Choose it?

Looked like fun. And purple is my favourite colour. From Hawthorn Farm.

Uses?

Beefsteak uses

Specifics:

This old heirloom tomato is a favorite of many, considered outstanding in every aspect.

It is a potato leaf variety that yields exceptionally early, delicious, large fruit with dark pink skin and crimson flesh.  The color is more of a deep pink than a true purple. In nineteenth century tomato terminology, "purple" always referred to what we now call pink. Average fruit weighs 1 pound, is 4 inches across, and 3 inches high with distinctive ridges like the ribs of a cantaloupe. The flavor is nice and balanced between sweet and tart with firm and meaty flesh. Remarkably, Pruden's Purple contains very few seeds. 

Personal Notes: 

Another one I can’t wait to try. 

*****

I haven’t planted these 2 tomatoes yet because I ran out of starter cells but maybe I’ll get to them today. 

7. Yagodka Cherry Tomato

Seed started:

Size:

2 feet tall by 2 feet wide, great for containers

Location:

Full sun

Matures in:

55 days from transplant

Native to:

The name is Russian for ‘little berry’ so I’m assuming there’s a connection there. 

Why did I Choose it?

When I read about it, it was called a tough compact plant that pumps out large cherry type tomatoes very early in the season. Sounds pretty good to me.  From Seeds of Imbolc.

Uses?

A desire for early tomatoes

Specifics:

Yagodka is a small red oval tomato, a large cherry type with great taste. They are a determinate tomato, and once they have produced all they are going to produce they will just stop. Because of this many use succession planting putting Yagodka in a spot for early tomatoes and then when the plant is finished, pull it out, transplanting something else into the same space for further production. Early tomatoes and a spot for late transplants, win/win!

Personal Notes: 

We’ll see how worth it for using space they are, because the early tomato part sounds good but not if they aren’t delicious.

8. Steakhouse Cherry Tomato

Seed started:

Size:

6 feet plus tall by 2-3 feet wide

Location:

Full sun

Matures in:

70 days from transplant

Native to:

From the Ozark Mountains aka Tommy Toe

Why did I Choose it?

Looked delicious on Seeds of Imbolc’s website 

Uses?

Larger size than most Cherry tomatoes, contain lots of juice/gel, and have an old time tomato flavour. Excellent in salads or for juices because of their acidic and slightly sweet flavour. 

Specifics:

The plants are quite productive, with apricot-sized fruit 2-4cm in diameter. The fruit is sweet and regarded as one of the best tasting of all heirloom tomato varieties. This variety produces over a long period of time (is indeterminate) and has good disease resistance.

Personal Notes: 

Looked like a good all round red tomato and being slightly larger they will be easier to prepare for roasted tomato sauce.

Which tomatoes have you started this year?

Any in particular you’re really looking forward to trying?